Automatic weighing device.



No. 857,164. PATENTE'D JUNE 18, 1907. REDTBAUBR.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1730.24. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r '0 nelZa/fa iaaer'.

No. 857,164. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

' P. EDTBAUER.

AUTOMATIC WBIGHING DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 24. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

PQ EDTBAUER.

AUTOMATIC WBIGHING mzvma.

APPLIOATIOI III-ED DEG. 24. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' I ing my invention with the weighlng scales. 4O

- transverse section taken on dotted line 4, 4,

,end, that is rectangu PETRONE'LL'A EDTBAUER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent...

Patented June 13,1907.

A nman flied December 24,1906. Serial No. 349.209.

Teal] whom it -.rm,y concern:

Be it known that I, PETRONELLA EDT- EAUER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain newand useful Im rovements in AutomaticVveighing Devices or Store Service, of which the ollowing is a clear,full, and exact descri tion.

e object of my invention is to provide a contrivance for automaticallyweighing the exact quantity desired of any free flowing commodity on theweighin scalesused for store service, and prevent t e possibility ofincorrect weight bein given either by inexperienced or unreliablepersons. This I accom lish by mechanism, into the hopper of whic thecommodity to be sold is deposited, and which, when the scales receivethe exact quantity desired, automatically dumps the excess thereof backinto thescoo or other suitable receptacle, by means of which latter itcan be returned to its original lace of storage, substantially ashereinafter lly described, and as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2is a vertical section therethrough taken on dotted line 2-2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is'a side elevation of the upper portion of said inventionshowing the relation of the devices thereon when the chutes are in atilted osition' Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views s owing, inperspective, the chutes, and. the different positions assumed by thesame during the operation of the machine." Fig. 7 is a detail viewshowing a plan of the devices for electrically connect- Figs. 8, 9, and10 are diagrammatical views of the electrical circuits used inconnection with my invention. Fig. 11 is a vertical Fig, 1 of the saidupper portion of the same.

n the drawings A re resents a hopper, preferably, of an mverte truncatedyramidal shape, which is rovided with a s ort tubular extension a eending from its lower ar in cross section and has'the opposite s i[edges of its lower open end inclined, so that the front edge of saidopening-is considerably higher than the rear e ge thereof. Theseinclined side edges are provided with ids-ways for the side edges ofthe. l'on'gitu lnally reciprocal 'ate B, the lower edge I) of whichlatter is ob 'que to its and their lower edges can rest upon the upperlength. At about its center oi. length the uper edge of thisgate isprovided with lugs, between which the lower end of a link 0 is pivoted,that connects said gate with an arm secured to and projectin from atransverse rock-shaft d, journaleil in bearings in the sides of thesupporting-frame of the ma- I chine, substantially as shown.

Hopper A is suitably supported between the upper ends of substantiallycorresponding side-walls D. These side-walls may, desired, be su portedbylegs or standards E arising from t e base-plate X of the machine,

side edges of a funnel F, as shown, but do not want to be confined toany particular construction of said side-frames or the framework of themachine, as this may be changed to suit the fancy of the designer ormanufacturer without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thespace between the standards E, E, below the funnel F, is sufficient topermit of any suitable receptacle being placed thereunder to receive theexcess commodity passing through the machine, as will hereinafter bemore fully explained.

One end of rock-shaft d extends through its bearin s and is providedwith an index hand G, which latter can be moved, by means of a suitablefinger-gras f, to indicate the commodity being passed through themachine. The names of these commodities are arranged on the outersurface of the side-wall D concentric to shaft (1, in such order and atsuch distances apart, that, when the hand is moved to indicate a givencommodity, it will cause the gate B to open the discharge opening ofhopper A, just sufiicient to permit of a graduated or measured flow ofthe commodi'ty so indicated into the chutes. The chutes just referred toconsist of a large chute l, and a small chute J used in connectiontherewith. Chute I is iulcrumed at about its center of length to thewalls D, D, of the sup ortingframe by trunnions and is providedlongitudinal vertica Wall h, which extends practically its entire lengthand divides the chute intoa narrow passage h, and a passage it abouttwice the width of said narrow paslhe floor of the wider passage, it iscut away, back from the lower end of the sage.

with a chute, a distance corres ondin to about onethird the length ofthe c ute, t us practically making the wider assa e ofsaid chuteconsiderably shorter t an t e narrower passage. The smaller chute Jissecured near its lower TIO end in a normally inclined position to atransverse'rock-shaft j, and it is of such width and is so arranged thatits upper end incloses the lower end of the wider assages 72, of chuteI. Its length is substantia ly equal to the lower half of chute I, and,in its normal position, it forms a continuation of the wider assage ofsaid chute, I, and assists the flow 0 the com. modity, durin the initialflow of the same, to the pan of t e scales. This smaller chute J isdesigned to tilt at the proper time into an inclined position just theopposite of that in which it is in at the commencement of the operationof the machine, and then directs the flow of the commodity after it haspassed through chute I, into funnel F.

A connecting-rod N connects the side-wall ofjthe lower end of chute Jwith an arm 0 depending from a transverse rockshaft 0, which latter isournaled in bearings connected to and projecting from the sides of theextension (1 of hop er A. Between its bearings shaft 0 is provi ed witha vane P, which depends down therefrom in front of the larger end of thedischar e-opening of the hopper, against which it is I ept normallyressing by a coil-spring wound upon shaft 8, with one end attachethereto and the other end extended upward and bearing against the gateB. The connecting-rod N is not 'pivotedto arm 0, but extends through anopening therein and has a button or head 0 thereon, which.

pplvents its disengagin from said arm 0. en the chutes are 1n t eposition shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, as at the commencement of theoperation of the machine, the button of the end of said rod N en agessaid arm and holds the shaft 0 in such position thatthe vane P will beremoved from the dischar e-oplenin of the hopper, but, when the smal er0 ute tilts seats to dump whatever flows into it into the funnel F, therod moves longitudinally upward through the opening in arms 0, and theshaft, through the agency of spring 10, moves so as to make vane P closethe larger end of the discharge-opening andslows up the flow of thecommodity from the hopper.

- e end of shaft 0 opposite that from which arm 0 depends, is providedwith an arm tprojecting to the rear, to the extremity of which a rod '1)is pivotally connected. This .rod extends down through an eye vprojecting transversely from the bottom of chute I near the upper endthereof and has a button or head w on its lower end.v The purpose ofthis rod 1) is to enable the larger chute, when it tilts so as todischarge direct into funnel, F, to engage the head w thereof and causethe rod v toturn-shaft 0 so as to move vane P away from thedischarge-opening of the hopper in order that its'contents can be morequickly emptied. When the smaller chute is restored to, its originalposition, 'r'od N, through the medium of arm 0 and shaft 0 of anj;

fall into the lposition shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. y restrictingthe flow of the commodity from the hopper A by the use of the vane 1,the remaining contents will discharge from the hopper slower thanbefore, and enable the flow through the narrower channel of said chute Jto continue lon er, and thus insure the continuation of said ow untilthe proper measure of the commodity has fallen into the pan of thescales. After chute J has tilted so as to dump its contents into thefunnel, ma net M becomes demagnetized, and when the continued flow ofthe commodity through the narrower passage of chute I has su plied thedesired weight in the pan of the sea cs, a ma net Q becomes magnetizedand attracts a flat armature g. This armature g has a detent 1'projecting from its back, and when this detent withdraws its supportfrom under the end of an arm R projectmg from the upper end of chuteI,-sa1d chute falls and tilts into the position shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings.

The wei hing scales, in connection with which my improvements are used,may-be one s own in the drawings is of the type com prising abalance-beam s havin a weightplatform (not shown) at one on and aremovable pan or scoop S of any suitable design on its other end intowhich the commodity being weighed flows. The end of beam 8 supportingthe pan S has an arm T secured thereto, which, preferably, projectslaterally therefrom towardthesaid feeding devices. When the machine isset for operation, the

weighted ends of switches 2 and 3 rest on the adjacent end of this armT. These switches each comprise rocking-beams or levers, which arefulcrumed at suitable their ends, between standar s arisin from a raisedplatform. .The ortion 0 these switches between their in crums and theirweighted ends are substantially the same length, but the length of theopposite end of the styles now in common use. The

oints mediate 'portion of switch 2 is longer, preferably than theopposite end portion of switch 3. en the pan S of the scales receives asuflicient quantity of the commodity to cause it to move downwardslightly, switch 2 moves so that its :upwardlymovmg endenga es theterminals of an electric circuit'an' comletes-a. circuit throu h magnetM, and, in he. manner hereinbe ore explained, causes rock-shaft j.

tween standards 8,8, arising from thesame.

platform, and is arranged at 'right angles to i switch 2, and so thatthe end thereof oppoby arm T, is rocke site that to which link 7 isconnected extends over switch 2. Now immediately after chute J tilts, asshown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, lever 6 is moved so that it pressesdown upon switch 2 and breaks the contactbetween terminal 4 and'saidlever and opens the circuit again in which magnet M is in. Whenthe pan Sof thescales has received a sufficient quantity of the commodity to obta'in-the weight desired, and moves down to the limit of its movement,switch 3, whose weighted end had reviously been supported d to an extentfurther than it is necessary to move switch 2 to enable its end farthestfrom said scalesto' come in contact with the terminal 9 of an electriccircuit in which magnet Q is included. and energizes the same, with theresults hereinbefore s ecifled, and at the same time rings a bellsecured in any desired position to the supporting-frame. to signify thatthe weighing operation of the scales has been accomplished.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I show a diagralnmatical View of the electriccircuits usedv in my invention. In this the fulcrum of switches '2 and 3are shown to be electrically connected by a wire 10, and the fulcrum ofswitch 2 to be connected by a wire 12 to a battery .13. From theopposite electrode of battery 13 a wire 14 extends to and is connectedwith a suitable contact-point 30, which latter is normally engaged by acircuit breaker 15, consisting of a strip of elastic metal permanentlysecured at one end and bearing down u on said contact 30. From thiscircuit-brea er a wire 16 extendsto ma net M and from thence a wire 17exten s back to terminal 4, substantially as shown in Fig. 10 of thedrawings. Switch 3 does not electrically contact with terminal 9 at thesame time switch 2 engages terminal 4, or vice versa, but when switch 3does engage terminal 9, the circuit is established through wires 10 and12to battery 13, and from thence through wire 14' to contact 30, andthen through the circuit-breaker 15 and a portion of wire 16 and a wire32'to the mag nets Q, and finally from the magnets Q through a wire 31back to contact 9. A bell-circuit wire 19 is provided the ends of whichare connected and always closed to wires 16 and 31, and an electric bellW is electrically. connected thereto, which rings whenever magnets Q-are energized. The manner in which the circuit caused by the der,however, to break the circuit caused by the engagement of switch 3 withcontact 9 the moment the weighing is completed and chute I tilts, Iprovide one of its trunnions g with a short rojecting stud g, which,when chute I is in t e position shown in Fig. 2 will roject horizontallyforward, as shown in ig. 11 of the drawings. chute, I, tilts to theposition shown in Fig. 6, the turning of the'trunnion g causes saidstud, g, to engage and push the free end of circuitbreaker 15'u ward outof contact with contact 30, an instantly breaks the circuit. Thecircuit-breaker 15 and stud 9 remains in this last mentioned positionuntil the Now when said chutes are raised again, and, when thishap pens,the trunnion g and stud g resume their original positions, and permitthe circuitbreaker to press down on contact 30 again.

In order to carry the direct'flow .of the commodity from the chutes Iand J to the pan of the scales I have provided a station ary chute orincline V the sides of which are upturned and connected to theside-walls D, D, of the supporting-frame. This incline may be dispensedwith, if desired. It is not shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings as itspresan arm 24 having a wrist-pin 25 which ex tends through the slot 23.When the chute I tilts into the position shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings, the wrist-pin will move to near the forward end of the slot 23that is nearest arm 21, so that by manipulating hand-grasp 20 to restorethe shaft j and the chute The arm 21 extends a J to their originalpositions, chute I, through the medium of the arm 24 and trunnions 9,will be restored to its original position, substantially as shown inFig. 4 of the drawings.

The operation of my invention is substantially as follows: The weight onthe end of switch 2 is normally su ported by the arm T projecting fromthe en of the balance-beam supporting the pan S. When said pan hasreceived enough of the commodity so that, together with the weighted endof switch 2 it will cause the pan to move downward, the

movement of switch 2 closes the circuit and energizes the magnet M, andreleases the chute J so that it tilts and discharges into funnel F,almost at the same time the rockinitial movement of switch 2 is brokenhas i shaft j, through 'the medium of arm 5 and been hereinbefore fullyexplained. In or- 1 link 7 causes the lever 6 to move switch 2 away fromcontact 4 and break the circuit and lifts its opposite wei hted end fromarm 'l. Thus relieved-of said weight, the pan of the scales rises to theupper limit of its inovement again and continues in this position untilsullicient of the commodity has flowed through the smaller passage ofchute l to equal the weights on the platform at the other end of thebalance-beam of the scal s,- whereupon said pan moves down to the limitof its lower movement, and the sup ort of arm T is withdrawn from the ajacent weighted end of switch 3, and the switch movesso as to close thecircuit that includes the magnet Q and results in the immediate tiltingof the larger chute I, and the consequent discharge of the commodityflowing from the hopper into funnel F. The next time it is desired touse the machine the chutes are restored to their original position.

What I claim as new is 1. An automatic feed mechanism for weighingdevices comprising a suitable hopper, an inclined chute having twolongitudinal channels and fulcrumed below said hopper and tiltable tochange the direction of [low of the commodity; balance scales at the endof said chute farthest from said hopper and means for directing the flowthrough one of said channels away from said scales.

2. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising-asuitable ho per, an inclined chute having two longitud nal channels oneof which is wider than the other and fulcrumed below said hopper andtiltable to change the direction of flow of the commodity; balancescales at the end of said chute farthest from said hopper and means fordirecting the flow through one of said channels away from said scales 3.An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising a suitableho per, an inclinedchute having two longitudinal channels one of whichis wider and shorter than the other and 'fulcrumed below said hopper andtiltable to change the direction of 1 low of the commodity; balancescales at the end of said chute farthest from said hopper and a shorttilting chute for receiving amlklirecting the flow away from said scalesI through'the broader channel independently of the longer narrowchanneL.

4. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable ho per, an inclined chute having two longitud nal channels andfulcrumed below said hopper and tiltable to change the direction of llowof the commodity; balance scales at the end of said chute farthest fromsaid hopper, means for directing the flow'through one of said channelsaway from said scales, and a funnel below said hopper adapted to receivefrom said chute the excess flow of said hopper 5. automatic feed'mechanism for weighing devices comprising a suitable ho per, an inclinedchute having two longitu inal channels one of which is wider than theother and fulcrumed below said hopper and tiltable to change thedirection of flow of the commodity; balance scales at the end of saidweighing devices comprising a suitable ho per, an inclined chute havingtwo longitu inal channels one .of which is wider and shorter than theother and fulcrumed below said hopper and tiltable to change thedirection of flow of the' commodity; balance scales at the end of saidchute, a short tilting chute for receiving and directing the flow awayfrom said scales through the broader channel inde endently of the longernarrow channel, an( a funnel below said hopper adapted to receive fromsaid chute the excess flow of said hopper. v

7. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute fulcrumed below said hopperand temporarily supported at one end, electrically controlled devicesfor releasing the supported end of said tilting chute, and balancescalesat the end of said chute farthest from said hopper which areelectrically connected to said. releasing devices.

8. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute temporari y su ported at oneend having two longitudinal channels and fulcrumed below said hoper,balance scales at theend of said chuto farthest from said ho per whichare electrically connected to re easing devices,means for directing theflow through one of said channels away from said scales and electricallycontrolled releasing devices for said tilting chute and for saiddirecting means.

9. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable ho per, an inclined tilting chute temporari y su ported at oneend having two longitudinal channels one of which is wider than. theother and fulcrumed below said hopper, bal-- ance scales at the end ofsaid chute farthest from said. hopper which are electrically connectedto releasing devices, means for directingthe flow through one of saidchannels away from said'scales and electrically-controlled releasingdevices for said tilting chute andfor said directing means.

10. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute temporarl y su )ported at oneend having two longitudinal channels one of which is wider and shorterthan the other and fulcrumed below said hopper balance scales at the endof said chute farthest from said hopperwhich are electrically connectedto releasing devices, a

short tilting chute for receiving and directing supported at one endhaving two longitudina channels one of which iswider and shorter thanthe other and fulcrumed below said hopper, balance scales at the end ofsaid chute farthest from said hopper which are electrically connected toreleasing devices, a short tilting chute for receiving and directing theflow away from said scales through the broader channel independently ofthe onger narrow channel and independently electricallycontrolledreleasing devices for each of said tilting chutes.

12. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute temporarily su ported at oneend having two longitudinalchannels one of which is wider and shorterthan the other and fulcrumed below said hopper, balance scales at theend of said chute farthest from said hopper, which are electricallyconnected to releasing devices, a short tilting chute for receiving anddirecting the flow away from said scales through the broader channelindependently of the longer narrow channehand independently electricallycontrolled consecutively operated releasing devices for each of saidtilting chutes.

13. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute having two iongitudinalchannels one of which is wider and shorter than the other and fulcrumedbelow said hopper, balance scales at the end of said circuitelectrically connecting said scales andmagnets, and a short tiltingchute for receiving and directing the flow away from said scales throughthe broader channel independently of the longer narrow channel.

14. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hoper, an inclined tilting chute fulcrumed belbw and at oneside of said hopper, a rockshaft to which said hopper is secured mediateits ends, a pawl projecting therefrom, an armature engaged by said pawl,magnets therefor, balance scales. at the end of said chute farthest fromsaid hopper, and an electric circuit connecting said balance scales andmagnets;

15. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tiltin chute having two lonitudinalchannels w iich are fulcrumed beow and at one side of said hopper,a'rockshaft to which said chute is secured, balance scales at the end ofthe chute farthest from said hopper, a short tilting chute for receivmgand directing the flow throughone of said channels away from saidscales, a rockshaft to which saidshort tilting chuteis secured, andmeans for connecting said rockshafts which permit the latter to tiltindependently of the former but makes both return simultaneously.

16. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute having two lonitudinalchannels which are fulcrumed beow said hopper, a rock-shaft to whichsaid chute is secured, balance scales at the end of the chute farthestfrom said hopper, a short tiltin chute for receiving and directing theflow t irough one of said channels away from said scales, both of saidtilting chutes temporarily supported at one end, a rock-shaft to whichsaid short tilting chute is secured, means for connecting saidrock-shafts which permit the latter to tilt independentlyof the formerbut makes both return simultaneously, and electrical means dependent upon said scales for releasing first the short tilting chute and then theother.

17. An automatic feed mechanism i0! weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute having two on 'itudinaichannels and fulcrumed below said hopper, balance scales at the end ofsaid chute farthest from said hopper, means for directing the flowthrough one of saidchannels away from said scales, and a suitableautomatic device for restricting the discharge from said hopper.

18. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hoper, an inclined tilting chute having two ongitudinalchannels one of which is wider than the other and fulcrumed below saidhopper, balance scales at the end of said chute farthest from saidhopper, means for directing the flow through one of said channels awayfrom said scales, and a suitable automatic device for restricting thedischarge from said hopper.

19. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hoper, an inclined tilting chute having two ongitudinalchannels one of which is wider and shorter than the other and fulcrumedbelow said hop er, balance scales at the end of said chute arthest fromsaid hop er, a short tilting chute for receiving and 'r'ecting the flowaway from said scales throu h the broader channel independently of t elonger narrow channel, and a suitable automatic device for restrictingthe discharge from said hopper.

20. An automatic feed mechanism for weighing devices comprising asuitable hopper, an inclined tilting chute having two longitudinalchannels iulcrumed below said hopper, balance scales at the endof saidchute farthest from said hopper, means for directing the flow throughone of said channels away from said scales and a suitable automaticswinging device for restricting the discharge from said hopper.

21. An automatic feeding machine for weighing scales comprising asuitable hopper, an adjustable gate for regulatin the discharge openingthereof, an inclined ilting chute fulcrumed below said hopper, asuitableautomatic device inde endent of said gate for restricting thedisc arge from said hopper, and balance scales at the end of said chutefarthest from said hopper.

22. An automatic 1 feeding machine for weighing scales comprising asuitable ho per, an adjustable gate for regulating the dischargeolpening thereof, an inclined tilting chute fu crumed below said hopper,a suitable automatic swinging device independent of said gate forrestricting the discharge from said hopper, and balance scales at theend of said chute farthest from said lio per.

23. An automatic feed mec anism for Weighin devices comprising asuitable hopper, a siding gate therefor, a rock-shaft, a ink connectingsaid rock-shaft and gate, an

scarce index arm secured to the extended arm of said shaft, an inclinedtilting chute fulcrumed below said'hopper, and balance scales at the endoif said chute farthest from said hopper.

24. An automatic feed mechanism for weighin devices comprising asuitable hopper, a s 'ding gate therefor, a rock-shaft, a

' nk connecting said rock-shaft and gate, an

weighing devices comprising a suitable hopper, a sliding gate forregulating the d1scharge opening thereof, indicia indicatingthe'relative position of said gate, means operatively connected to saidgate provided with an index arm for indicating an item enumerated insaid indicia according to the extent of closure of the discharge 0 eningof said hop er, an inclined tilting c lute fulcrumed elow said hop er,and balance scales'at the end of said c iute farthest from said hopper.

ln-testimony .Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th dayof December, A. D 1906.

rnracactti EDTBAUER. [a a] Witnesses:

FRANK D. THOMASON, E. K. Loner.

